Device for preventing feather-pulling in fowls



Sept. 20, 1932. J; Q E ET AL DEVICE FOR PREVENTING FEATHER PULLING IN FOWLS Filed March 25. 1931 INVENTOR rw Kosfen Fr g n k Zu mien 1a Patented Sept. 20, 1932 NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHANNES KOS'IEN AN D FRANK ZUIDEMA, 0F GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN DEVICE FOR PREVENTING FEATHER-PULLING IN FOWLS Application filed March 23, 1981. Serial No. 524,508.

The main object of this invention is to provide a device for preventing feather pulling in fowls which is effective for the purpose and at the same time does not injure the fowl 5 or prevent its feeding.

' A further object is to provide a device of this character which is economical to produce and easily applied.

Objects pertaining to details and economice of our invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

A structure embodying the features of pur invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a conventional side elevation of the head of a fowl having our device applied to the upper mandible.

Fig. 2 isa'cross section of the upper manbeing shown conventionally and no attempt being made to indicate the internal form and structure thereof.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on line 33 of Fig. l, the mandibles being shown conventionally.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan View.

Fig. 5 is an interior perspective of a shield designed for the upper mandible.

Fig. 6 is an interior perspective of a shield designed for the lower mandible.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of'a modified form or embodiment of our invention.

In the accompanying drawing we represent the head of a fowl at 1 with upper mandible 2 and lower mandible 3. These parts are conventionally illustrated.

Our feather pulling prevention device comprises a sheath 4 formed of flexible resilient rubber and having inturned edge 5 adapted to engage the edges of the mandible to which the sheath is applied, the tip of the mandible projectinginto a pocket-like portion 6 at the tip of the sheath.

' The sheath is of such dimensions as to resiliently grasp or fit the mandible and when designed for the upper mandible has inturned lug portions 7 engageable in the nasal fossa 8 so that the sheath has a very firm grip on the mandibleand is not likely to become accidentally displaced. The sheath bedible on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, the mandible ing of resilient material does not produce undesirable pressure on the beak and permits the growth of the fowl. The inturned edges of the sheathengage theother mandible at a point substantially spaced from the tip thereof as at 9 in Fig. 1, thereby preventing the complete closing of the. mandibles and consequently preventing the grasping of a feather.

In Fig. 6 the sheath 10 has inturned edges 11 corresponding to the inturned edges 5 of the sheath 4L and has a central portion 12 which engages in' the central recess in the lower mandible, thereby coacting with the inturned edges 11 and effectively retaining the sheath on the lower mandible. It is unnecessary, however, to employ a sheath for each mandible although" the device may be adapted for either mandible and is effective in either-case.

In Fig. 7 the sheath 13-has a complete inner wall 14, this particular sheath being Iadapted for the upper and/or lower mandi- The habit of feather pulling is usually acquired when the fowls are quite young and in the rapidly growingstage. The device may be applied to such fowls without injury thereto. It permits considerable growth before renewal is necessary and it usually results that, thehabit not having been formed, a larger sheath is unnecessary. The device does not seriously hamper the fowls in feed- I-Iaving thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device for preventing feather-pulling in-fowls consistin rubber conforme to receive the upper mandible of a fowl and having inwardly turned edges embracing the edges thereof and inwardly projecting lug portions at its rear end engageable in the nasal fossa. j

2. A device for the prevention of featherpulling in fowls consistin of a sheath of resilient rubber-like materlal adapted to be disposed on a mandible of a fowl and having inturned edges with which the opposite,

mandible engages inspaced relation to its of asheath of resilient tip, thereby preventing the closing of the mandibles at the tip, said sheath having a recess-engaging portion at its inner end.

3; A device for the prevention of featherpulling in fowls consisting of a sheath of resilient rubber-like material adapted to be disposed on a mandible of a fowl and having I inturned edges with which the opposite mandible engages in spaced relation to its tip, thereby preventing the closing of the mandibles at the tip.

4. A device for the prevention of featherpulling in fowls consisting of a resilient rubber mandible sheath having inturned edges overlapping the edges of the mandible and resiliently grasping the mandible to which it is ap lied.

5. A device or preventing feather-pulling in fowls consisting of an elastic sheath of rubber-like material conformed to receive a mandible of a fowl and having inwardly curved edges embracing the edges thereof.

6. A device for preventing feather-pulling in fowls consisting of an elastic resilient sheath of rubber-like material conformed to receive a manidble of a fowl and having indented portions resiliently engaging recesses in the mandible.

7. A device of the class described consisting of a hollow conoidal substantially beakshaped soft rubber sheath having an indented mouth-cavity portion.

8. A device of the class described consisting of a hollow conoidal substantially beakshaped soft rubber sheath.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands.

J OHANNES KOSTEN. FRANK ZUIDEMA. 

